Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Faro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Faro or Santillana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Santillana, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Faro or Santillana?
Faro
Faro (or sometimes Faros) is the capital city of the scenic Algarve Region of Portugal, located at the edge of the Ria Formosa National Park. This is a fantastic place to experience the beauty, culture, and traditions of Portugal in laid back atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities. Faro offers everything from ancient architecture to beautiful beaches all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Algarve Region.
Santillana
A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFaro €133Santillana €105
The average daily cost (per person) in Faro is €133, while the average daily cost in Santillana is €105. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Faro and Santillana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFaro €75Santillana €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFaro €150Santillana €120
Compare Hotels in Faro and Santillana
Looking for a hotel in Faro or Santillana? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Faro Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Faro €9.52Santillana €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Faro
Also for Faro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ) Transfers airport Faro X Sevilla: $91
- Aiport Transfer from FARO to TAVIRA or CABANAS: $72
- Airport Transfer to Albufeira: $62
- Airport Transfer to Armação da Pera: $81
- Airport Transfer to Burgau: $143
- Airport Transfer to Cadiz: $669
- Airport Transfer to Carvoeiro: $87
- Airport Transfer to Evora: $414
- Airport Transfer to Gale: $67
- Airport Transfer to Huelva: $155
- Airport Transfer to Isla Antilla: $129
- Airport Transfer to Lagos: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Faro or Santillana?
Prices for flights to both Santillana and Faro change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayFaro €36Santillana €30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Faro
For Faro, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Most Delicious Private Food Tour of 6 or 10 Tastings: $83
- 3 Hours Classic Food Tour in Faro: $97
- Authentic Portuguese Cooking Experience in Algarve: $162
Typical Food Prices in Santillana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:
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Breakfast€7.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Faro €9.41Santillana €23
Tours and Activities in Faro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Faro.
- Camera Obscura - Tavira Eye - Admission Ticket: $5.45
- Faro Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Lagos Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Tavira Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $7.84
- Faro Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Algarve Life Sciences Center Museum Family Ticket: $13
- Cork Factory Tour & Cork Shop: $18
- Ria Formosa Sunset Boat Tour: $21
- Eco Boat Tour in the Ria Formosa Lagoon from Faro: $22
- 1 or 2 Hour Speed Boat Tour - Ria Formosa: $26
- 2 Hours Boat Tour in Ria Formosa: $27
- Tavira Route Boat Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Santillana
Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Memorable Family Walking Tour in Ancient Santillana del Mar: $428
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFaro €3.13Santillana €4.29
Sample the Local Flavors in Faro
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Faro:
- Wine tastings, with Tour option - Authentic Algarve Flavours by Quinta da Tôr: $19
- Visit to a Family Brewery in Loulé with Tasting: $27
- Algarve Traditional Food and Wine Tasting: $48
Sample the Local Flavors in Santillana
Also in Santillana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Santillana Uncorked: A Wine Tasting Adventure: $1,022
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Santillana, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Santillana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santillana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santillana and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Faro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Faro than you might in Santillana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Faro Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Faro or Santillana?
Faro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Santillana, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Faro or Santillana?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Faro or Santillana in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Faro as well as Santillana. Many visitors come to Faro in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Faro is a little warmer than Santillana. Typically, the summer temperatures in Faro in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Santillana averages at about 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santillana. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.
Faro usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFaro 25°C (78°F)Santillana 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Faro or Santillana in the Autumn?
Both Santillana and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Faro is generally a little warmer than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 20°C (68°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. In October, Faro usually receives less rain than Santillana. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFaro 20°C (68°F)Santillana 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Faro or Santillana in the Winter?
Both Santillana and Faro during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Faro is a little warmer than Santillana in the winter. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.
Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Faro usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFaro 12°C (54°F)Santillana 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Faro or Santillana in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Santillana. The beaches are the main draw to Faro this time of year.
In the spring, Faro is a little warmer than Santillana. Typically, the spring temperatures in Faro in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Santillana averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santillana receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Santillana. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFaro 17°C (62°F)Santillana 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santillana and Faro
| Faro | Santillana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (56°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (58°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.